Laurie Saltarini

NO REHEARSAL will be necessary for Laurie Saltarini who, this month, will be presented with a coveted Toyota Australia President’s Award, his 17th accolade in a row.

Mr Saltarini, dealer principal and owner of Busselton Toyota in Western Australia, was announced as one of the 15 national Toyota dealers to win the President’s Awards for 2015.

He has won the award consecutively every year since 1999.

Ian Weigh

The Toyota President’s Award is granted to dealers in recognition of outstanding service across all facets of a dealership with an emphasis on the satisfaction of customers (now called “guests” by Toyota).

Toyota Australia media and external affairs manager Beck Angel said the award was rare among dealers and the Japanese car-maker is “exceptionally pleased to recognise three first-time winners”.

These inaugural winners include Taylor Toyota in Hamilton, Victoria, Lockyer Valley Toyota in Gatton, Queensland and Ken Mills Toyota in Nambour, Queensland.

Ian O’Brien

Amongst the winners are Ian Weight of Ian Weight Toyota in Rockhampton, who is only one award behind Busselton’s Laurie Saltarini and is on his 16th consecutive award since 2000.

Andrew Scifleet, another of this year’s winners, has marked up 14 awards – the first in 1991 – for his family’s Sci-Fleet Toyota dealerships.

According to Toyota Australia, the award is seen as an “aspirational goal” and is designed to “encourage and support a mindset of continuous improvement and respect for people”.

Brett Mills

Last year in February, Toyota Australia president Dave Buttner revised the award to also reflect the current business environment, focussing on a positive work culture.

Toyota maintains a “zero harm” policy, a key focus that underlines the entire company, which is a commitment to a safe working environment.

“Respectful transition” was also added as a key goal, making it a priority to ensure the support and wellbeing of all employees during Toyota’s transition period of withdrawing from local manufacturing.

Andrew Scifleet

Two other new goals include “customer centric mindset” and “last car = best global car”.

Toyota said that a “customer centric mindset” is a key principle of its Franchise of the Future initiative and the foundation of the company.

“We want to exceed customer expectations, ensuring customers are always top of mind and that we look at everything from their perspective,” it said in the 2015 annual report.

Ian Taylor

“The next focus is ‘last car = best global car’. We need to maintain our high standards right up until the last car that we build.

“The pride and passion that we have always displayed must continue so that we can deliver the very best cars to our domestic and export customers.

“In addition, ‘product desirability’ and ‘market leadership’ continue to be key priority areas.”

By Neil Dowling